Global Legal Monitor

Panama; United Nations: Program to Prevent Shipping of Illicit Goods via Sea Ports

(July 30, 2010) On June 22, 2010, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Panama announced that they have started a program aimed at preventing counterfeit and illicit and goods from accessing Central American markets via sea ports. According to a press release issued on the occasion:

The programme includes the launch by UNODC of the Centre of Excellence on Maritime Security in Panama City and the opening of a regional office for Central America, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, with financial support from the Panamanian Government.

The centre will help identify threats to maritime security and serve as a resource of expertise, training, data collection and analysis. UNODC's new operational hub in Panama City will also allow the organization to provide more effective advisory services to countries in the region.